The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-22
THE STRIKE AT GROTON GORGE.
PRIOR.


Arethusa Allen was only eighteen
when she came to Groton Gorge to take
charge Of the district school slight
dsrk-eyed slip of thing, with low
voice, and such shy timid way, that the
big girls and rebellious boys at once
Jumped to the conclusion that she would
be CONQUERED at once in her capacity as
'schoolm' am"
They discovered their mistake, how
ever, in very brief period OF time. Miss
Allen might be quiet, but she had the
spirit of Joan of Arc. She reduced her
little flock to order and she kept them
there, too.
Mrs. Binns who presided over the
Gorge House, also bore tentimony In
behalf of Arethusa Allen.
at didn't s'pose when I first see her,
that she would amount to row OF pins,
said Mrs. Binns who weighed three hun
dred pounds, and stood five feet eight
inches in her stockings. "a slim school
girl lookin' creetur like thatl And I
hadn't room to spare, and I didn't see
how 1 could possibly accommodate her.
But she spoke up SO pretty-like, that she
hadn't no friends and didn't know where
to go, SO says L: If you don't mind a
room over the laundry, can clear out
some of the stores and put you up cot
bed till the season is over. It's a noisy
place daytimes,' says I, with those Chi
nese cackling and screechin', but it's
still and peacesble Of nights. And If
you help me make out the bills and keep
the accounts, Miss Allen" says I, 'Pll
consider it in your board, Tor I amt no
scholar and never was
to look at, but she was as beautiful at
heart as the Venus di Medicis' self, and
Arethusa soon felt herself at home In the
little room over the laundry whose win
dows looked out at the thread-like fall OF
q silver cascade and the unfathomable
gloom of the fir glens beyond. For
Groton Gorge was as lovely place as
ever leaned from mountain plateau over
the misty valley below; and the Groton
House was full of city boarders.
Nor was the domestic staff contempti-
BILE. Mrs Binns had all her servants
from the city during the summer season,
and to all appearances, everything went
on velvet.
Until one foggy August morning, when
Mrs. Binns awakened to find herself rack
ed in every joint with acute rheumatism,
andutterly incapable of moving.
She sent for Mrs. Macks nzie, the cook,
TO give the days orders; but Mre. Macken-
zie did not wait to hear about roasting
chickens and JOINTS of spring lamb, be-
fore she began on her own account.
"Sorry to inconvenience you, Fam, I"
said Mrs. Mackenzie, with her arms akin
DO; tbut we ladies and gentlemen down
stairs have concluded to ask for an in
crease of salary. And until you have
conceded to our demands, We shall be
impelled to resist from work"
Mrs. Binns opened her eyes wide.
"Aint't I psyin' you good wages al
ready2" said she. "Aud can't afford to
pay no more-not cent?
Mrs. Mackenzie took ro' of paper out
of her apron pocket and opened it.
"I have here, man," said she, purs-
ing up her thin lips, "the signatures OF
all of the ladies and gents at present as
sistin' in the mediterranean regists down
stairs, including the four walters of the
colored gender and the two Chinese
washer-laundries; and we won't none Of
us stay another hour without you'll
agree in documentary writin', ma'em, to
raise our salaries"
And Mrs. Mackenzie tossed her head in
spiteful satisfaction.
Mrs. Binns sank back on her pillows
81 can't give no answer" she said
not with this pain in my bones. Send
Miss Arethusa Allen to me, please.
"Oh, certainly, ms'sm-certainlyp said
the cook rising. "Sorry you feel sc poor.
ly. But you'll bear in mind, ma'am, that
we shall expect an answer immediate"
And Mrs. Mackenzie withdrew.
Presently Arethusa Allen came in-tor,
as it CHANGED, the district school had
closed week previously for the summer
vacstion-and found Mrs. Binps dissolv-
cd in tears.
"What is it, dear Mre. Binns?" said
Arethusa.
"The help have all struck for higher